Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2016 12:33:26 +0400
From: Nell Bas <helledon12@gmail.com>
Subject: the last feres/ the feri light 14

Happy Reading!

				The Feri Light
				  Chapter 14

   I woke up in a tiny bed with white sheets. Judging by the nauseating smell
of disinfectant and other associated smells, I'd say I was in a hospital. I say
hospital because the place looked nothing like a typical Targ infirmary. It was
equipped with electricity and an assortment of equipment one might typically
find in a human hospital, not to mention the EKG machine beeping next to my
head.

   How? When did I get to the human realm? And perhaps the key question I
should be asking myself is: why am I in a hospital?

   I got my answer while trying to move into a more comfortable position.

   A dizzy spell, a hair splitting headache and cold chill rippled over my skin
as I managed to pull the white sheet off my upper body.

   'Take it easy young man. You're not in any condition to move right now,' a
gruff mature voice said before gentle hands pushed me back down. Then the
pleasant face of an older gentleman came into view. His calm voice, his warm
smile and his intelligent dark brown eyes behind his thick glasses removed any
fear I had.

   His smile broadened when he met no resistance from me.

   'Where am I?' I asked. It was then I noticed his messy gray hair flirting
with the collar of his white lab coat, which gave him a "mad-scientist" look.

   'You're in my infirmary,' but then clarified it further when he saw my brow
crease, 'in Koff. The guards brought you in after you fell unconscious. If I were
to believe them, you never woke from the paralytic toxin the mercenaries
injected you with upon your capture.'

   I sighed resignedly. I was in Targeten. And apparently, still a prisoner in
this place.

   Without thinking, I strained my neck to scan the room.

   The older man grinned. 'The guards?  I chased them out, if that's who
you're looking for.'

   I scolded myself for being so obvious.

   He chuckled. 'You don't need to fret. As long as you're here, you have
nothing to fear from them or from me, for that matter. I'm going to take good
care of you.'

   I didn't totally believe that but if he really had chased the guards out, he
certainly must have some authority.

   'What's wrong with me mister...? What should I call you, doctor, healer?'

   'Any would be fine, although, I am known here as the professor because of
my particular interest in science. Human stuff as it is known here.'

   'You've been to the human realm then?'

   'Yes. I've been there on two separate occasions,' he said while checking my
vitals. 'On my first visit, I was a much younger man. As an apprentice to the
chief healer in The Sear, I accompanied my master to the other realm to clean
up the mess left by some warlock. That's when I met this physician that called
himself a doctor. I was fascinated by his work and we became friends. I gained a
lot from him but there wasn't enough time to learn everything before I had to
return home. It took me a few more years before I was able to venture there
again, but thanks to a friend who knew the guardian of Sandridon, I was able to
strike a bargain for the next time around.

   'In Europe, I enrolled in university and became a scientist. It was fun
times,' he paused reminiscing the old times.

   'If you liked it there so much, why did you come back?'

   I suddenly cringed and held my head out of pain. The professor reached for
a tiny vile of liquid and asked me to swallow. It tasted bitter but I felt the
soothing effect instantly.

   'I would have stayed if it weren't for the fact that I still looked like a twenty
year old while my wife looked like a senior citizen. I loved her very much but I
had no other option. Her family and other people were too suspicious. They
spread rumors about me being a crazy scientist obsessed with finding a cure
for immortality. The authorities caught wind of that and they chased me across
the continent. The whole thing was hard on my elderly wife and son. So I had
to fake my own death and leave them behind.'

   'You had a son with a human?'

   He smiled. 'Yes. The last I heard he's already joined my wife in the afterlife.
But I was relieved to learn I had become a great grand-father. My son married
and his wife bore him three sons. I learned that two died in the Second World
War. The youngest was too young for the war and so then he married and
became a doctor like me. He has three children, two daughters and a son.'

   I was happy to hear that he was happy. 'Do you know their names?'

   'The girls are named Olivia and Margret and the boy Richard.'

   'Richard? I was recently in the human realm too and I met a half Targ
named Richard. He's my uncle's friend. He's a brilliant lawyer. He helped my
uncle get custardy of my little brother.'

    'I heard he was in law practice, but could it be him?'

   'Yes. Anything is possible.'

   He laughed. I did too but ended up wheezing.

   'That's enough of my stories. Now you rest up young man.'

   'But you still haven't told me what's the matter with me,' I complained.

   He sighed. Then he grinned.

    'Your condition is easy to understand. The effects of the toxin wore off
days ago but the fact that you started getting ill upon arriving in Koff told me
that you have feri light withdrawal syndrome.'

   'Feri light withdrawal syndrome, huh!' I absentmindedly repeated.

   'Helledon's son is half Northender. He's allergic to feri light energy so
there's a great crystal hovering in the ceiling of the market place, banishing the
sentient energy for miles around the town. Everyone not born in Koff has the
same reaction as you, but normally an hour in the special chamber I've built
would be enough for you to get over it.  But then you're not a mere Targ, are
you?'

   Truth be told, I was shocked at his assumption.

   'You must be mistaken. I ...'

   'I know you are a feres your majesty. I have your blood test to prove
it. I don't know your intent in coming here but know that Koff is probably
the most dangerous place for you to be right now. If you get the chance,
get as far away from this place as you can. If you stay, there's only death
waiting for you if they find out about you.'

   So, he wasn't going to rat me out. That was good to know.

   He gave a short bow and turned to leave.

   'Wait. At least tell me your name?'

   He smiled. 'Dorek Fanbray.'

   Dorek! Wasn't he the guy we came here to find? Unfortunately, before I
was able to ask, he was out the door.

   .......................................

   End of chapter 14